Poor Horse Chestnut Tree

I have a once beautiful, 40 odd foot Horse Chestnut tree in my garden, which hasn't looked too healthy for the last couple of years. I've just discovered today that it has canker and it looks like it's going to have to go.

I'm absolutely devastated to say the least. I just can't bear to think of my garden without it. :(

 

Hi Honeytone,

I`m with you there babe, lost my beautiful mature cherry tree this week and japanese cherry blossom a fortnight ago as well.

I actually cried about it in the bath and went to bed early.

 

Hi honeytone,

Sure is a bummer about your tree. I've seen so many horse chestnuts affected either by canker or leaf miner, and I know how people can get attached to their trees. Make sure you have plenty of pictures of it before it goes. Are you planning to replant?

 

Crikey, two in such a short space of time must have been quite a blow. :(

I suspect my reaction will be exactly the same as yours.

Funnily enough I did get loads of photos as it came into leaf this spring. It looked fantastic for the first few weeks, but then it failed to flower properly and has lost an awful lot of leaves. It's a right sorry sight. :(

Yes, we would like to plant another tree in it's place, but we don't know what. Another Horse Chestnut is apparently out of the question due to the possibility of reinfection. I think we'd like something that's going to mature quickly and won't grow quite so tall. Any suggestions?

 

Hi Honey,

Yeah it was quite a bad shock, and one I don`t want to repeat, so I am also on the lookout for a nice tree. At least the two oaks are a-ok. I was considering a willow, a rowan or an ash, but went all over the place today and didn't see any that I felt were right. As a bit of a tree hugger it will be dreadful this week- I take the cherry down this week and am burning it.